Today, I sit down with a person I've worked with for almost ten years — Luca Bertoletti, both across various organisations and as business partners at B&K Agency.

For a long time, I haven't communicated much here about the work we do at the agency. In this episode, we open up that conversation, diving deeper into the public affairs profession, explaining what it actually looks like in practice and how we work with businesses and policymakers in Brussels.

Luca developed an interest in lobbying while at school and decided it would be his profession for life. Public affairs, or lobbying, is a field often viewed from different perspectives and surrounded by misconceptions. In Italy, lobbying is not widely accepted, while it is a full-on operation across the capitals that run the Western world: Brussels, London, and, obviously, Washington D.C. In this episode, we discuss how it works day to day, from representing stakeholders to building relationships with European institutions.

Luca has lived in Brussels on and off since 2016 and has seen first-hand how this city has evolved into a centre of European decision-making. Listen to this episode to hear all about public affairs, the Brussels Bubble, and why our work is not frequently talked about, is hard to measure, yet truly represents the foundation of the democratic process.

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B&K Agency: https://bkagency.co/

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📲 Follow Luca Bertoletti on X: https://x.com/LucaBertoletti

📲 Follow Luca Bertoletti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertolettiluca/

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Wilkin, co-founder and editor of The Sentinel, a Brussels online publication providing insights for Europe's rearmament.

Sam and I unpack some of the most pressing security questions facing Europe today. We discuss what holds Europe back from reaching its defence spending targets and why unity on security remains so difficult.

Together, we also dive into the military conflicts, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to the recent tensions in Iran, and explore how political priorities and national interests influence decisions in the US and EU.

This conversation reflects on modern warfare, the rise of drones and whether Europe can achieve a truly united defence posture.

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✔️ Julia Kril on Instagram 📸: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/

✔️ Julia Kril on TikTok 🎥 : https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril

✔️ Julia Kril on Linkedin 💼 : https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/

The Sentinel: https://www.the-sentinel.media/

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📲 Follow Sam Wilkin on X: https://x.com/MrSamWilkin

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Today, I sit down with Duygu Dagdemir, gemologist and founder of VONA, to talk all things diamonds and jewellery.

In this episode, Duygu shares how she entered the industry, from discovering lab-grown diamonds to deciding to build a business around them. She touches upon the differences between lab-grown and mined stones, why naturality remains a controversial topic, how diamonds are created, and how long it takes to produce a piece of fine jewellery.

We discuss engagement rings and how much they "should" cost, the meaning people attach to the size and quality, and how traditions and marketing around jewellery are evolving. The conversation also moves into how the industry is changing globally, from prices to shifting demand.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@juliakril

✔️ Julia Kril on Instagram 📸: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/

✔️ Julia Kril on TikTok 🎥 : https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril

✔️ Julia Kril on Linkedin 💼 : https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/

VONA Fine Jewelry: https://vonaofficial.com/

📲 Follow Duygu Dagdemir on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duygudagdemir

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📲 Follow Duygu Dagdemir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duygudagdemir